Historical scavenger hunt at the Central Library

Historical scavenger hunt at the Central Library
By Tim Spitzack | Editor

The next time you visit the George Latimer Central Library you should check out something other than a book, namely its exquisite architecture and the historical gems of the century-old building.

The library was designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style by architect Electus Litchfield in 1912-13, and its architectural features are readily apparent upon approaching the library: the balustrade surrounding the building, the large round-arched windows, and the cornice work atop the library. The exterior was constructed of Tennessee marble and the interior is gray Mankato stone, with Blue Rutland and golden vein Formosa marble in some areas.

Construction of the $1.5 million project began in 1914 and was completed three years later. It was a project that literally rose from the ashes. The former library, located in Old Market Hall on Seventh Street, was destroyed by fire in 1915, along with its collection of 158,000 books. Planning for the new library was in the works well before the fire, beginning in 1909.
Today, the Central Library is the largest branch of St. Paul Public Library. It has roughly 350,000 books and other materials in its collection, and more than 300,000 visitors annually. It was renamed in 2014 in honor of George Latimer, who served as St. Paul mayor from 1976 to 1990. Latimer was a longtime board member of Friends of the Library and in 2012 was elected board chair emeritus.

The library offers a 30-minute guided tour of the building, otherwise take a self-guided tour and look for these notable features.

First Floor – The youth services area in the west wing features historic stone arch doorways, three bronze sculptures of Ramona the Pest, the character from the famous children’s books by Beverly Cleary, and a carved sculpture of owls.
The puppet stage in the Children’s Room features a carved head of Loki, the god of mischief in Norse mythology. The stage is made of bleached walnut from southern Minnesota.

Second Floor – The Nicholson Commons features large arched windows, angel friezes on each end of the room and paintings on the ceiling beams. In the lobby area near the stairway are sculptural friezes depicting groups symbolizing Knowledge, Instruction, Science and the Arts. Other panels in this area mark the creation of the St. Paul Public Library – founded in September 1857 as the St. Paul Mercantile Library Association – and the opening of Central Library, as well as quotations from the Book of Proverbs. The Media and Nonfiction Room features a large semi-circular alcove framed by elegant columns and arched elements. Look up to see the medallions in the painted ceiling, representing the Muses, Graces, Fates and Furies.

Third Floor – The Magazine Room features a small alcove with three arches supported by groups of four columns. The central panel in the ceiling shows the old seal of the library with the sword of St. Paul supported by books and torches. The names of Homer, Socrates, Descartes, Voltaire, Galileo, and Da Vinci are also inscribed on the ceiling beams.